No room for corrupt officials

Government has taken a major step by regulating the re-employment of employees at local government dismissed for serious misconduct.

This is according to acting Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister, Nathi Mthethwa, who tabled the Municipal Systems Amendment Bill in Parliament on Thursday.

"Corruption is an enemy of development and our endeavour to eradicate poverty and unemployment that is facing us today. We are tackling this head-on ... Those found to have defrauded the State will have no space in our local government sphere.

"We have agreed that officials found guilty of such serious misconduct, fraud and corruption should not be re-employed by any municipality for a period of 10 years," Mthethwa said. "We are a government at work and dedicated to achieving clean, effective and efficient local government."

The Bill seeks to professionalise local government by hiring qualified people with relevant skills and to amplify accountability among officials.

Municipalities are no longer going to be staffed by employees who are not qualified to undertake their duties and it also makes it mandatory for municipalities to employ appropriately qualified and competent persons.

The minister also called on all people to turn out in greater and unprecedented numbers in the country's fourth democratic local government elections on 18 May to vote.

"We hope that the 23.6 million people who have registered will come in numbers to cast their votes. I wish all political parties participating in these local government elections all the best," he said. - BuaNews

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